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Over at Libertarian Samizdata they are displaying pictures of contributors of which I am one. Those wishing to have a good scare should head over.
In further oddity news, it seems that London is being hit by blackouts. West London and South London today, yet another reminded of the Winter of Discontent. I suspect a blackout will have to hit Downing Street before anyone there will notice anything amiss.
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There seems to be a general malaise here in the UK. A friend of mine described it as a “curse.” It seems that everyone he and I know, including vica-versa, is having a really rotten run in the last few months. Deaths, diseases, pestilence, pernury and personal chaos figure in our lives.
Who is responsible for the coming of the late ‘01/’02 apocalypse?
My friend claims the agent of all this destruction, the 4 horsemen in one, is Tony Blair. He smiles and preens as the country goes to hell in a handbasket.
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Queensryche: Greatest Hits
Virgin/EMI Records
(similarities: Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, Vanden Plas)
Listening to this disc is in itself a decidedly mixed pleasure. It is wonderful to hear all the great moments of the band, but it also reminds the listener of how bad they have become. This 16 song compilation traces the bands history from their first EP all the way to Hear in the Now Frontier, their last, but one, album.
Listening to this collection leaves one wondering whether or not it might be a better idea for the Ryche to call it a day now that the man responsible (in full or in part) for 12 out of these 16 songs has left the fold. Or better yet maybe DeGarmo will take heed of the fans� plight and rejoin his former band.
Earlier albums are represented by 2 songs apiece, up to and including the awesome Operation: Mindcrime, while the latter 3 are represented by 3 tracks a-peice. There are two bonus tracks on this compilation, both Japan only bonus tracks, from the last two albums represented on this disc. Fortunately, no one thought it a good idea to include any lame re-mixes on this album, all the tracks that are represented on the album are actual album tracks.
The bonus tracks are alternate recordings of �Chasing Blue Sky� and �Someone Else� . Both of these of bonus tracks are a true bonus to the collection and are great to listen to, neither feels tacked on. All the songs have been digitally re-mastered in 24-bit.
The tracks trace the Ryche from their early metal days ( best represented by the old favorites, The Lady Wore Black and Queen of the Reich from their first EP,) through their more progressive sound, then into their more commercial sound, and back to a darker edge. The album really shows how the band grew in a career, from songwriting to musicianship. Tracks like powerful, �I Don�t� Believe in Love�, the opinionated, �Empire� and the awesome, �Silent Lucidity� really shine as examples of this band at their absolute best. Even the later emotive track, �Someone Else� shows just how good these guys can be when they hit their mark.
This is a fitting testament to a great band who have fallen from their heights. I highly recommend this album to anyone with even a fleeting interest in Queensryche. I know that I will listen to it again and again on one of the long plane journey�s I seem to be taking these days. Much imitated, but rarely topped, surely we must wonder whether they can reach these heights again.
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Mr Big: Get Over It
Atlantic Records
(similarities: Tesla, Black Crowes)
New album, new guitarist and old band with its share of radio hits. Sound vaguely familiar? Gone is Paul Gilbert, in comes Richie Kotzen. Richie is the guy who replaced CC Deville in Poison and got his arse booted out for shagging Ricky Rocket�s fianc�. Great guitar player, with solo albums and one lame Poison album to his name. Mr Big replaced one guitar guru with a prot�g�e, so does it work well?
The opening track �Electrified� has a great chorus and is a decent blues based rocker. �Hiding Place� sees Mr Big getting a bit funky, while �Superfantastic� , the first single from the album, has hit written all over it. This very-Tesla like song with its catchy chorus and acoustic intro should be huge, and no doubt will be in Japan.
Another catchy track is �How does it feel?� This features some nice guitar work and has a good bluesy feel to it. While �Try� is a Stonesy song, that sounds like something the Black Crowes would have recorded during the �Shake your Money Maker� sessions. It is catchy as hell, and will stick in your head for a long time to come. Billy Sheehan�s bass really shows through on �Dancin�, a catchy blues track.
The CD ends with a �My New Religion� a mellow acoustic track, with the requisite strings. This track is very catchy and makes a good partner to the guy�s biggest hits. This will no doubt do well in Japan as well. All in all, this is a solid effort. There is nothing really outstanding here, but it is all good. It will be interesting to see what their next disc will sound like once Kotzen has settled in a bit.
Note: To bad this isn’t going to happen, Mr Big are calling in quits next month.
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